This volume presents an overview of the many new and exciting results, both theoretical and experimental, in the area of spin structure functions and sum rules at low to moderate photon virtuality Q2. It includes contributions from many leading scientists in the field worldwide.The volume covers the following topics:• recent results on the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn (GDH) sum rule with real photons and its extensions to virtual photons• inclusive spin structure functions at low to moderate Q2 and their moments• exclusive measurements of nucleon spin structure in the resonance region• spin polarizabilities and Compton scattering• chiral perturbation theory and other low-energy limits of QCD• lattice QCD, duality, and phenomological models• nuclear effects and the GDH sum rule in nuclei• experimental techniques (polarized targets and beams)• future plans and projects

The volume covers the following topics; - recent results on the Gerasimov--Drell-Hern (GDH) sum rule with real photons and its extensions to virtual photons - inclusive spin structure functions at low to moderate Q2 and their moments - exclusive measurements of nucleon spin structure in the resonance region - spin polarizabilities and compton scattering - chiral perturbation theory and other low-energy limits of QCD - lattice QCD, duality, and phenomological models - nuclear effects and the GDH sum rule in nuclei - experimental techniques (polarized targets and bearns) - future plans and projects - Features contributions from renowned experts in the field, including Xiangdon Ji, Ulf Meissner and John Negele - Presents a comprehensive overview of the field - Includes up-to-date research results from many international laboratories and pedagogical overview talks

Marseille, France, 26-28 July 2004

From its early beginnings at SLAC in the 1970's, the study of nucleon spin structure using polarized lepton beams and polarized nucleon targets has become increasingly important in nuclear and particle physics, with current experiments at several of the world's high energy laboratories (CERN, DESY and SLAC) and with enormous related theoretical studies. The understanding of the fascinating but complicated problem of nucleon spin structure has progressed substantially, but fundamental questions remain and it can be confidently predicted that future activity will be high. The Erice Course on The Spin Structure of the Nucleon covered both the experimental and theoretical aspects of the subject, and this volume includes the lectures given at the School. In many cases the lecture material has been extended and updated by the authors. In addition, several recent publications on experimental work have been added in an appendix.